Hajj Draws Hundreds of Thousands of Pilgrims in Mecca

Hajj Draws Hundreds of Thousands of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims head to the "Jamarat" ritual, the symbolic stoning of Satan, where they throw pebbles at pillars, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, on October 16, 2013. Pilgrims pelt pillars symbolising the devil with pebbles on the third day of the hajj as Muslims worldwide mark the Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice, marking the end of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images

Hajj Draws Hundreds of Thousands of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims head to the "Jamarat" ritual, the symbolic stoning of Satan, where they throw pebbles at pillars, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, on October 16, 2013. Pilgrims pelt pillars symbolising the devil with pebbles on the third day of the hajj as Muslims worldwide mark the Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice, marking the end of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images

Hajj Draws Hundreds of Thousands of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslims in Mecca heading to Mina near the holy city of Mecca to perform the ritual of the Stoning of the Devil on October 15, 2013 in Saudi Arabia. Stoning of the Devil is consist of striking the large jamrah only with seven pebbles on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah which is Eid al-Adha.

Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Hajj Draws Hundreds of Thousands of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims walk to cast stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," a rite of the annual hajj, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 16, 2013.

Amr Nabil/AP Photo

Hajj Draws Hundreds of Thousands of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba as they pray inside the Grand Mosque during the hajj, or pilgrimage, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Oct. 15, 2013. The hajj, a central pillar of Islam and one that able-bodied Muslims must make once in their lives, is a four-day spiritual cleansing based on centuries of interpretation of the traditions of Prophet Muhammad.

Amr Nabil/AP Photo

Hajj Draws Hundreds of Thousands of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, some touching a marker at its peak, on the Plain of Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 14, 2013.

Amr Nabil/AP Photo

Hajj Draws Millions of Pilgrims in Mecca

A general view of Mount Arafat where the Muslim pilgrims gather, Oct. 14, 2013, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. More than 2 million prospective pilgrims who poured out of the Muslim holy city of Mecca to begin the annual hajj have flocked to Arafat for the Waqfa Prayer.

Irfan Sapmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Hajj Draws Millions of Pilgrims in Mecca

An Egyptian Muslim pilgrim cries as he prays at sunrise on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 14, 2013.

Amr Nabil/AP Photo

Hajj Draws Millions of Pilgrims in Mecca

A Muslim pilgrim touches a marker at the top of a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 14, 2014.

Amr Nabil/AP Photo

Hajj Draws Millions of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims pray the noon prayers near fruit carts in Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 14, 2013.

Amr Nabil/AP Photo

Hajj Draws Millions of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 14, 2014.

Amr Nabil/AP Photo

Hajj Draws Millions of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat, near Mecca, to take part in one of the hajj rituals, Oct. 14, 2013. The pilgrims perform a series of rituals during the annual hajj.

Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Hajj Draws Millions of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims wait in a vigil on Mount Arafat, near Mecca, to take part in one of the hajj rituals, Oct. 14, 2013.

Cem Oksuz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Hajj Draws Millions of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform morning prayer in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Oct. 13, 2013, as hundreds of thousands of Muslims have poured into the holy city of Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage.

Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images

Hajj Draws Millions of Pilgrims in Mecca

Muslim pilgrims are seen through a decorative window of a shopping mall as they make their way to offer their noon prayers near the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 10, 2013. Every Muslim is required to perform the Muslim annual hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime, if able to do so.